Bursting bubbles ...
learning how to communicate beyond our own echo-chambers
You may find this hard to imagine, but even the gloriously bonkers hedgehog world has its moments when communication slips outside what you might consider to be reasonable!
It is understandable, to an extent. Feelings can run high. You don’t get involved with looking after hedgehogs unless you care deeply. You don’t get involved unless you are also VERY stubborn!! This is not easy work.
I remember listening to livestock farmers in debate about the badger cull at a meeting I was invited to a while back and having very similar thoughts. Many of the people in the room knew that the badger cull was ridiculous. And there were buckets of data to confirm this - but the farmers also, with absolute certainty, knew they were right as well.
The farmers lead a very tough life, you don’t go into it to make a quick buck - it is a lifestyle you have to fully embrace. And when confronted with a different perspective it can be very difficult to change your mind. The same is true for many hedgehog rehabilitators too.
Understanding that can make it easier to be more considerate in communication. Though I do suggest it would help if everyone involved would be willing to risk a step outside of their own bubble. To try and see the world from a different point of view.
In the hedgehog world I am fortunately quite well insulated, having been blocked by some of the more intemperate - and also because the Hedgehog Highways Facebook group I set up has two amazing moderators (thank you to Jacqueline and Rose for all you do) who help keep the noise to a minimum! And with over 23,000 members - that is quite a feat we manage!
It is a good space to go to ask questions about hedgehogs! And you don’t need to just rely on the hive mind of hedgehogs - there is a lot of information already there in the files.
So why burble on about this now? Because my wife has just edited and uploaded the video she did of me doing a talk at the amazing Green Gathering - quite the best of festivals (along with Wood!)
I was not booked to do a talk but someone failed to arrive on time for their slot, and I am a reliable substitute! This time I was talking about the work I did for Cull of the Wild, Killing in the Name of Conservation. And listening through to it was quite an education - this was me not really prepared (and a little rude in places - just a warning if you are sensitive!) - and very tired after a few late nights … but I was very pleased with the way the words tumbled out.
This might seem very strange … sorry … but I don’t often listen back to things I do - and I don’t write anything that I present - so it is interesting to hear what I said!!
Anyway - HERE IT IS - I would love your thoughts. In particular on the theme that runs throughout as to how we best communicate with people of differing views. And if you have any thoughts or advice, please do join in through the comments. I am under no illusion that I am always right!! In fact that is the essence of the scientific discipline - we know we could be wrong, and that is why we continue to test our ideas!
Talking of ideas - the Speakers Forum, of which I was a part - has a YouTube page filled with fascinating input from Zack Polanksi, Lowkey, Jonathan Porritt, Clive Lewis MP …
I would love to get better at communicating with people - top tips please!
Oh - and see you at the Green Gathering and Wood this year maybe? Let me know if you are coming.
Thanks for sharing your event/s and for the Appreciative Inquiry info which applies to Across The Pond and anywhere in the world.
Thanks for these observations Hugh - being genuinely interested and curious really helps - Appreciative Inquiry is also an excellent framework for this, & offers some great easy tools. We've shared it in many settings- health, education, care homes, businesses, prisons,...... https://appreciatingpeople.co.uk/